London 2012 Olympics: Goldie Sayers misses out on women's javelin final due to elbow injury

Goldie Sayers’ dream of winning her first international medal ended in heartbreak
in the Olympic stadium on Tuesday morning after her torn elbow ligament
wrecked her chances of qualifying for the javelin final.

The 30 year-old did not even bother to have her three throws measured, stepping out of the front of the circle each time, as she was barely able to reach 40 metres. The automatic qualifying distance was 62m.

It was a bitter disappointment for one of Britain’s most popular athletes who was in the form of her life just a few weeks ago when she shattered her own UK record at Crystal Palace, claiming the scalp of defending champion and world record-holder Barbora Spotakova in the process.

In a desperate stroke of misfortune, Sayers tore a ligament in her right elbow while attempting her final throw in the same competition. Since then, she has been receiving intensive medical treatment in an attempt to speed her recovery, and her elbow was heavily strapped as she attempted to secure her qualification for the final.

But it was clear from her first-round throw that Sayers was in no shape to compete, the javelin landing no more than 35 metres from the throwing circle. Grimacing with pain, her second two throws were little better and she left the stadium to sympathetic applause from the home crowd.

On her way out of the stadium, an emotional Sayers explained her injury and said that she was determined to carry on for the 2016 Olympics.